Luggage

Home Office Home Again: Random Observations After 2 Weeks on the Road

After two weeks on the road, it's the simple observations that bring clarity to the home office adventure. Like…

- Sponsor or no, the Verizon Mifi 'personal hotspot' won the day — hands down. It was a true fan favorite and winner of the HOH'09 Product of Choice. Hey, anything that keeps the hoards from beating me up for my Internet connection is worthy of praise. Teleworkers and road warriors alike will find this tool extremely useful.

- Yes, family, we WILL survive two weeks without a TV. And we did. We talked, played more Yahtzee and Racko than we ever thought possible, and watched burning embers in the fire pit. And yes, we surfed the Web. A lot. Truth be told, we watched a few DVD movies on Zack's HP laptop. But that's NOT TV.Read more

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Never Lose Your Luggage Again!

by Justin Hubbell on Sat, 2009-08-08 00:30

Last year alone the number of items of luggage misplaced by airlines rose from 30 million to 42 million, an increase of 40%! ReboundTAG, a new UK startup has been working with help from IATA (International Air Transport Association) along with several airport systems developers to come up with a novel solution, by permanently attaching a microchip to a person's luggage.

There is also a barcode and number printed on the Microchip Bag Tag to insure that they function in airports where there are no microchip readers; when the luggage is found the owner receives an email and an SMS (text) to their mobile phone immediately.

The Microchip Bag Tags are made using a patented military grade encapsulation so that they are as close as possible to being indestructible, and can be used as often as desired anywhere in the world. The tags do not contain the customer's details at all, but have a unique ID corresponding to a private database. The Microchip Bag Tag also includes a second microchip that allows the most modern airports to encode your flight data onto the tag whenever you fly.Read more

Deals for Dads Thanks to PayPal

by jessica on Wed, 2009-06-17 15:18

Are you still looking for a Father's Day gift? Shopping with PayPal allows you to save some money in the process. Sound good? Read on to see some gift ideas for Dad that won't cost you an arm and a leg…

Gadget Dad:

Instead of spending over $1,000 on a new laptop or PC, how about a mini notebook? Toshiba's NB205 mini Notebook is packed with features, available in four different colors and priced between $349 and $399!
If Dad really wants a laptop, Toshiba also offers a great notebook for under $750. Visit http://laptops.toshiba.com/laptops/satellite to get more information on the Toshiba Satellite A350.
With PayPal Shopping, consumers can receive 15% off items like a 52" Sharp AQUOS 1080 LCD HDTV plus free shipping!

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Haul It All with Train Reaction Luggage

by jessica on Tue, 2009-04-28 11:28

You may not have realized it, but Mother's Day is almost here (May 10th for those of you that don't know). If you are still looking for a gift, and your mom loves to travel, here is a suggestion for you – the Train Reaction luggage set. With an MSRP of $667-$757 this set is not exactly cheap, but mom will be able to "roll twice the luggage with half the effort" (as the company touts).

What makes the Train Reaction System different is it uses a unique leverage system that balances three pieces of luggage and makes them feel practically weightless. So weightless in fact, that your child will be able to easily move around 100 pounds of gear! The luggage doesn't even need to be perfectly packed…the Train Reaction System automatically balances the three pieces. Read more

Solar Bag Charges Laptops and More!

by jeff on Wed, 2008-12-10 00:30

It is all in the solar panel, and the good ones are usually really expensive. This high-efficiency Generator solar panel bag from Voltaic Systems is affordable for what it does … charge your gear! One hour in the sun will fully charge most cell phones, MP3 players or cameras. The solar panel Voltaic uses will generate up to 15 Watts of power, plus it has a 58Wh Lilon battery built into the bag (which helps facilitate the charging process).

The most common adapters come with the bag, which is made out of recycled drink bottles. You have a choice of five different colors — distinctive orange, silver, green, white and a more discrete black. The MSRP of the Generator laptop-charging bag is $499 and can be found at select retailers. Check out their site: www.voltaicsystems.com to locate the retailer nearest you.

First Solar Bag Powerful Enough to Charge Laptops

December 2008 - Voltaic Systems announces the release of its new solar bag, the Generator. The bag produces enough solar power to fully charge a laptop from less than a day in the sun.

The new Generator features a sleek, high-efficiency 15 Watt solar panel. In about five hours of full sunshine, the panel recharges a custom-designed battery pack, which efficiently captures and stores solar power until needed. The battery holds the equivalent of a full laptop charge and can also be charged from a wall outlet. CEO Shayne McQuade adds “Since the release of our first bag, our customers have been asking about charging laptops. By using 20% efficiency solar cells, we are now able to pack enough power into a compact case.”

For each hour in the sun, the Generator extends laptop run time by 20-45 minutes, depending on the efficiency of the laptop. An hour in the sun also generates enough power to fully charge most phones, MP3 players and small cameras. Read more

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Charging is Green

by jeff on Mon, 2008-11-24 16:13

Are you concerned you are not green enough? What about your family or friends? Do you do your part for a cleaner environment? Those batteries for the electronics… do you recycle or recharge? Are you still throwing away your batteries?! Well, now is the time to start new habits. You can charge your gear while you commute with the new Fusion canvas/leather Solar Messenger Bag by Eclipse Solar Gear.

The Fusion Messenger Bags are functional bags, and they have solar cells built right into the side for easy charging. Anything you can plug into your car using a 12-volt auto adapter can be trickle charged using solar bags by Eclipse Solar Gear. These messenger bags are sold online, and at Macy’s Department Stores. The MSRP on the Fusion Messenger Bags are $189 - $249. As for your batteries that you no longer have a use for, please find a location to recycle them: www.rbrc.org

Balanzza Ergo Digital Scale Provides Confidence

by jeff on Mon, 2008-11-24 12:31

How many times have you had your luggage placed on the scale at the airport, and you became concerned you might be fined? Did you pack too much? Are your bags overweight? There is a way to know the weight of your bags before you get to the airport. I use a handheld scale when I travel with my family to get each bag to 49 lbs. The Balanzza Ergo digital handheld scale requires AAA batteries (included), can weigh bags up to 100 pounds and is only 10oz. The Balanzza is $24 MSRP, and is much less than the penalties from the airlines.

See the graph below to better understand the penalties and fees from the airlines:

Have a Nice Flight!!

7 Steps to Successfully Getting Your Bag Onboard

With the ever-increasing trend towards airlines charging to check even one bag it is tempting to carry onboard any and all bags for your flight. But, the airlines are keenly aware of your desire to avoid the fees and are on the lookout for passengers who want to stuff as much into carry-on baggage. Here are some simple steps you can take to packing a bag for carry-on and still stay within the airline rules.

Step 1 – Pack Light

Trust me, you don’t need to bring as much as you think. Consider how often you are going to be seen by the same people and realize that you don’t need to wear something different every day of your trip. Limit the number of shoes you bring. Remember you’re already wearing one pair on the plane. Read more